Disposable saucer insert



Jan. 23, 1962 A. OPOLION 3,013,014

DISPOSABLE SAUCER INSERT Filed March 50, 1961 INVENTOR. ARTHUR OPOLIONF/G3 BY HIS ATTORNEY fiihfil i Patented Jan. 23, 1962 3,018,014DISPOSABLE SAUCER INSERT Arthur Opolion, 895 West End Ave, New York 25,N.Y. Filed Mar. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 99,505 3 Claims. (Cl. 215-1005) Thisinvention relates to coasters and more particularly to a saucer insertadapted to obviate the problem of drip and spillage of any cupspill-over portion within the saucer.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by meansof the combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the disposable saucer insert, andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the insert in placement position withina saucer;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in isolation of the encircled segment ofthe section of FIG. 2.

The invention is directed to providing a disposable saucer insert whichwill drain and retain the cup spillover portion of coffee or the likeand which will prevent the cup from contacting the spill-over portionssubsequent to drainage thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel coaster adapted to beplaced in standard saucer and adapted to remove any spill-over of coffeeor the like from sight and in addition to preclude further spillagethereof should the saucer be tilted from the horizontal.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a saucerinsert which will absorb any spill-over portion of coffee or the likeand which will not release said spill-over portion under the weight of acup placed thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a disposablesaucer insert which can be utilized as an advertising medium for coffeeproducts and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a unique andaesthetic saucer insert which is readily and economically manufactured,convenient to use, efficient in operation and easily disposed of.

It will be understood that the foregoing general objectives and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory butare not restrictive of the invention. Referring now in detail to thepresent preferred embodiment of the disposable saucer insert illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 showsthe insert designated generally by numeral 1 positioned within astandard saucer 2.

Referring to the sectional view of FIGURE 2 of the drawings, insert 1 isseen to be formed of top member 4 and bottom member 6, said top andbottom members being combined in superposed relation in the mannershown. Top member 4 which is preferably constructed of a high densitypaper of water impervious character or of any other material havingsimilarly suitable properties is comprised of a dished central area 8,said central area being concave with respect to the bottom of saucer 2.Hollow raised portion 12 being disposed peripherally of said centralarea 8 is seen to be positioned intermediate of the said central areaand the outer area 14 extending thereabout, openings 16 and 18 beingintermittently positioned along the inside and outside base portions,respectively, of the said hollow raised portion. It will be seen that inView of the concave curvature of central area 8 and of the concentricinclination of outer area 14, any spill-over or overflow of liquid fromcup 20 will tend to drain toward openings 16 and 18 at the base of andadjacent said raised portion 12.

Bottom member 6 constructed of material possessing the liquid absorbtiveproperty, is provided with a peripheral shoulder 22 integral with thetop side 24 of the said bottom member. Shoulder 22 being shapedcomplementary with respect to the underside 2.6 of hollow raised portion12 is readily received within said raised portion and may be securedtherein by means of cement applied at the zenith 28 of the said shoulderor in any other suitable manner. I

As illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings intermittent openings 16 and18 adjacent the base of said portion 1'2 provide drainage means for anyliquid spill-over portion by establishing communication between thesurface of said top member 4 and the said absorbtive bottom member 6,such drainage being effectively accomplished through the cooperativerelation of said openings contiguous with shoulder 22 of the saidabsorbtive bottom member.

In providing the structural configuration according to the foregoing,the instant coaster will be understood to "be an expeditor of theoverflow liquid removal function otherwise normally occasioned by dintof gravity-inspired flow through openings 16 and 18 and of absorbtionand capillary flow by and through bottom member 6. To that end,deflection of central concave area 8 toward the formation indicated bybroken line 8, i occasioned under the weight of cup 20 resting thereon.By reason of such deflection, air normally occupying the space 30beneath said top member is forced from the said space 30 throughopenings 16 and 18, whereunder an area of reduced air pressure iscreated. Upon rem-oval of cup 20 from central area 8 and the restorationof said area to normalcy indicated by numeral 8, any overflow portioncontained upon top member 4 above and/ or near openings 16 and 18 willbe drawn through said openings by virtue of the said reduced airpressure, and will subsequently be absorbed by the said bottom member 6.

Inasmuch as the weight of cup 20 is substantially supported by shoulder22, any liquid contained within absorbtive member 6 will not be releasedunder the weight of said cup but will rather be retained therein out ofcontact with said cup and will not be spilled notwithstanding theinadvertent tilting of the saucer.

Substantial space provided circumferencially of outer area 14 will lendeach insert for the purpose of display of advertising media while theinexpensiveness of both materials and applicable methods for thefabrication of the said inserts provide the disposable feature enjoyedby the users thereof.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carryingout the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A disposable saucer insert comprising in combination, a top memberand a liquid absorbtive bottom member shaped for placement within asaucer, said top member having a dished central area concave withrespect to the bottom of a saucer, a hollow raised portion peripherallylocated with respect to said concavely dished central area, openingspositioned adjacent said peripherally located raised portion, saidabsorbtive bottom member having a top side and a bottom side, aperipheral shoulder integral with the said top side, said shoulder beingsecurely receivable within said holl-ow raised portion and in registrywith said openings, said top side being spaced with respect to saidconcavely dished central area of said top member and said bottom sidebeing adapted to fit within a saucer bottom.

2. A disposable saucer insert comprising in combination, a top memberand a liquid absorbtive bottom member shaped for placement within asaucer, said top member having a dished central area concave withrespect to a saucer bottom, and an outer area sloping downwardly towardsaid dished central area, a hollow raised portion peripherally locatedwith respect to said central area and being interposed between saidcentral and outer areas, openings positioned adjacent said hollow raisedportion, said absorbtive bottom member having a top side and a bottomside, a peripheral shoulder integral with the said top side, saidshoulder being securely receivable within said hollow raised portion andin registry with said openings, said top side being spaced with respectto said concavely dished central area and said bottom side being adaptedto fit within a saucer bottom.

3. A disposable saucer insert comprising in combination, a top memberand a liquid absorbent bottom member shaped for placement within asaucer, said top memher having a deflecti'ble dished central area, saidcentral area being concave with respect to a saucer bottom, an outerarea sloping downwardly toward said dished central area, a hollow raisedportion peripherally defining said central area and being interposedbetween said central and outer areas, openings intermittently positionedalong the base of said hollow raised portion, said absorbent bottommember having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral shoulderintegral with said top side, said shoulder being secured within saidhollow raised portion and in registry with said openings, said top sidebeing spaced with respect to said concavely dished central area and saidbottom side being adapted to fit within a saucer bottom.

No references cited.

